22-20’s announce split

After four years together, 22-20s have split up. Singer Martin Trimble
blames their touring schedule for not allowing the band to develop in the
way he would have liked.

Writing on the band’s MySpace page, Trimble writes: “Listening to Lightnin’
Hopkins, Albert King and Buddy Guy made me want to pick up a guitar. What
immediately made me fall in love with blues was the rawness, simplicity and
the truth of it. I wanted 22-20s to be about taking that essence and using
it as fuel to create something both we and other people could relate to. I
think initially most bands wear their influences on their sleeve but for a
number of reasons we’ve not been able to go beyond that first stage.”

He added: “It was always our desire to start writing and recording a
follow-up record as soon as the first studio album was recorded. That didn’t
happen – we toured for a year and a half. There is a prevailing myth within
music that touring is always the hard-working, ‘honest’ way to connect with
people. The reality for us is that I think it is difficult to move away from
a certain sound when you are reminded of it every night. Unfortunately we
were not surrounded by people who understood that.”

And continued: “Honesty is about playing songs you passionately believe in,
playing in a band you passionately believe in and I am no longer able to say
that about 22-20s. I am no longer comfortable being in a band named after a
blues song. Much like the last record it indicates where I was four years
ago and what I was listening to. It doesn’t accurately reflect what I listen
to now and where I want to go. I’m no longer comfortable with people’s
perception of what we represent. Being in a hard working, British-blues
touring band has never been something I’ve wished to endorse yet that’s we
what appear to have drifted into. In light of this, a decision has been made
to call it a day and to go our separate ways.”